Chinese mine worker killed in IS-claimed attack in Afghanistan

A Chinese mine worker was killed in an attack in Afghanistan, claimed by ISIS, amid security concerns.

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KABUL:

Police said on Wednesday a Chinese mine worker was killed in an attack in Afghanistan which the Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for, as the Taliban government attempts to project an image of security to encourage investment from Beijing.

The Chinese citizen was travelling on Tuesday evening in northern Takhar province bordering Tajikistan when he was killed by "unknown armed men", provincial police spokesman Mohammad Akbar Haqqani told AFP.

He said the man was travelling "for an unknown reason" and without informing security officials, who typically accompany Chinese nationals on trips in the country.

A translator travelling with the man was unharmed, Haqqani added.

The Islamic State (IS) group's regional chapter claimed responsibility for the attack later Wednesday, according to jihadist monitor SITE.

"The IS issued a communique... reporting that fighters fired at a vehicle carrying a 'communist Chinese' in Takhar, a province in which the group was last active in 2022," the monitor said.

Interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani confirmed the details of the killing and said the Chinese citizen was a business owner with a contract to mine in Afghanistan.

China's embassy in Kabul did not immediately respond to a request for comment by AFP.

The Taliban government are touting Afghanistan's vast natural resources, largely untapped during two decades of war, as a lifeline for the ravaged economy and a lucrative opportunity for foreign speculators.

Despite lingering security concerns, neighbouring China is emerging as a potential investment partner.